SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) is continuously monitoring the activities of Global Ikhwan Services & Business Holdings (GISBH) members.
Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said they were closely monitored due to their links with the Al-Arqam and Rufaqa' groups.
"Istitabah (repentance process) managed by Jais on Nov 8, 2013, has never cancelled the fatwa related to the beliefs and practices involving the Al-Arqam and Rufaqa' groups.
"Concerning the issue of GISBH that has gone viral, Jais has reviewed 19 videos uploaded on social media by the Research Centre for Deviant Teachings (Pukas).
"It is being conducted to strengthen the existing investigations further and to obtain statements from individuals or other parties (involved)," he said in a statement today (Sept 12).
Mohd Shahzihan said Jais also held discussions with the police on the items seized during the police raid on 18 premises yesterday (Sept 11).
Following this, he said, the seized items related to the beliefs and practices of GISBH members were handed over to Jais for further investigation under Sections 7, Section 12, and Section 13 of the Selangor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995.
He said two of the raided premises were Islamic primary schools registered with Jais, namely, Sekolah Rendah Islam Integrasi Miftahul Hikmah, in January 2015, and its registration will expire on Dec 31, 2025.
"The school, which consists of 12 teachers and staff; as well as 104 male and female students, uses the Jais syllabus.
"During the monitoring conducted at the school on Jan 13, 2023, March 23, 2023, and July 26, no deviations were detected.
"Another school, Maahad Tahfiz Wal Ulum Al-Ghazaly, was registered on Nov 12, 2014, and its registration will expire on Dec 31 this year.
"The maahad (religious school) consists of three staff members and 54 male students using its own tahfiz curriculum," he said.
He said a total of eight schools suspected to be under GISBH are registered with Jais.
Two of them have voluntarily closed operations, while the registration of two others has expired, one school had its registration revoked, and the remaining schools are still in operation until 2028, he said.
He said Jais will take appropriate actions against these schools under the Control of Islamic Religious Schools Enactment 1988.
He said the department remains vigilant regarding any information leading to deviant teachings in the state.